Health officials have issued a measles exposure alert after an infected traveler spent hours in Terminal 1 of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on April 22 and 23, between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. The individual, who had received only one dose of the MMR vaccine, later developed symptoms, including a rash confirmed as measles. They are now isolating at home.
Because measles is highly contagious and can linger in the air for up to two hours, officials warn that hundreds of travelers may have been exposed. A second measles case in the same Illinois county has also been reported, though links between the cases are still being investigated.
Symptoms include fever, cough, red eyes, runny nose, and rash. Anyone at O’Hare’s Terminal 1 during the exposure window should monitor for signs and contact a healthcare provider before visiting a facility. Two doses of the MMR vaccine offer 97% protection.
